John Huff/Staff photographer
Construction continues at the site of the new town library on Madbury Road Tuesday.

DURHAM — Construction for the completion of the new public library continues to be on schedule.

“It’s obviously coming along,” director Thomas Madden said.

The facility now has shingles on its roof, windows being installed and the exterior of the new portion of 49 Madbury Road has been sheathed in with plywood, Madden said.

Inside, many of the rooms have been framed and door frames have been installed into some of the offices.

While he said there are “other things to come down the pike” such as staircases and elevators, Madden said the project, slated to be finished sometime in July, should stay on track with its timeline barring any major weather setbacks that would halt construction.

Madden said the 10,500 square foot library is intended to serve as the community’s “living room,” addressing the various needs of researchers, readers, and the space needed for its patrons.

“We worked hard to make it the right size to be functional and comfortable for people,” he said.

Currently housed in 3,000 square feet of space in the Mill Plaza, the new facility will be quite a bit larger than the current library offering visitors 33,000 materials.

Click image to enlarge

John Huff/Staff photographer
Construction continues at the site of the new town library on Madbury Road Tuesday.

Of the $4.8 million project, $1,083,470 has been raised and donated as of Nov. 15, 2012, toward the project. In total, the library’s board of trustees and the community will have raised a total of $2.2 million toward the new library, reducing the bond request of the town. In March 2012, 74 percent of voters approved the construction of a new library facility by passing a $2.6 million bond as the town’s share of the project costs.

Just a couple weeks ago, Madded said library staff were taken to the site to view progress and they were thrilled with it.

You can see rooms such as the children’s room opening up, he said, so things are really starting to come together nicely.

“You just feel good,” he said.

Upon its planned opening in July, Madded said there will likely be tours held “so people get comfortable with where things are and know their way around.”